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An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending and supplementing the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, Division 5: Health and Sanitation, through the creation of a new Chapter 575, entitled "
Paid Sick Days Act," in order to improve the public health by granting
paid sick time to employees in the County.
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WHEREAS, as the County of Allegheny places paramount importance upon the health, safety, and welfare of its residents, it is incumbent upon the County to promote policies that are in the best interest of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 outbreak has clearly and unambiguously demonstrated the fundamental importance of social distancing and limiting exposure to potential disease carriers as a means of controlling the speed with which an infectious disease spreads; and
WHEREAS, members of the workforce throughout Allegheny County lack access to
paid sick days, yet frequently have contact with the general public, posing a high public health risk and increasing the likelihood of transmission of communicable illnesses; and
WHEREAS. research conducted in 2013 by the University of Pittsburgh showed that access to
paid sick leave can reduce workplace influenza infections by 6 percent; and
WHEREAS, the introduction of
paid sick time would result in benefits to both employees and employers, as studies repeatedly demonstrate that employees who have access to
paid sick time are more productive and less likely to come to work ill and unfit to perform their job as effectively and efficiently as possible, while also reducing the likelihood transmitting illnesses to coworkers; and
WHEREAS,
paid sick time policies have also been shown to both reduce employee turnover and strengthen employee loyalty; and
WHEREAS, access to
paid sick days further benefits children, as it affords parents the time to tend to their
sick children without sacrificing a day’s pay, thereby helping to prevent delayed medical treatment to children...
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